Academic Advisor
Academic Advisor
- 10000865
- Fairfax, VA
- Classified Staff
- Opening on: Mar 8 2024
Department: College of Engineering and Computing
Classification: Education Support Spec 3
Job Category: Classified Staff
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)
Location: Fairfax, VA
Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible
Pay Band: 04
Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience
Criminal Background Check: Yes
About the Department:
The mission of the Cyber Security Engineering department is to provide an outstanding education to our undergraduate and graduate students that emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior and integrity, and prepares them for successful careers and future academic work. Furthermore, the department fosters active, visible and leading-edge research that advances the field of cyber security.
About the Position:
The primary purpose of this position is to perform academic advising for all current and prospective undergraduate and graduate students, and reply to general inquiries about undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the department. This position is responsive in facilitating students’ education, decision-making and planning. The individual in this position represents the department in a professional manner and will act as a resource regarding the university and department’s rules and regulations while serving as a trouble-shooter and problem solver.
Responsibilities:
Undergraduate and Graduate Student Advising:
- Advises current undergraduate and graduate students in decision making and developing a plan of study consistent with students’ interests, desires and abilities;
- Assists students regarding course selection, prerequisites, transfer courses, registration and overrides, career and / or educational goal and general university rules and regulations;
- Coordinates processing of graduation applications;
- Ensures students meet departmental requirements toward degree progress;
- Acts and assists in trouble shooting and problem solving (failing, taking courses out of order, wanting advice on internships/jobs, etc.);
- Assists students in establishing or clarifying appropriate educational and vocational goals, assists students with problems of social or personal nature and assists in career decision making or making appropriate referrals;
- Communicates essential academic registration information; and
- Acts as a liaison in communicating students concerns, problems and issues to the higher management level.
Undergraduate and Graduate Student Affairs:
- Provides administrative support to students and faculty;
- Distributes information and assist in implementing and performing student support services tasks;
- Assists in coordination of efforts to organize departmental functions for students, including events such as orientation or faculty-student advising meetings;
- Participates in university wide programs and events related to undergraduate and graduate students such as admissions, orientation, advising, graduation and other social and networking events;
- Assists and functions as liaison between students, faculty, management and administrative agents in understanding the programs, university rules and regulations;
- Assists and performs the oversight of operations related to student records, graduation and student recruitment functions;
- Generates correspondence in communicating with students, faculty and other administrators in writing and via e-mail or other communication means in response to students' and other constituent’s inquiries in fostering student success as needed; and
- Assists in program function and operations.
Other Related Duties as Assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- High school diploma or equivalent;
- Some experience in related activities (i.e. mentorship, advising, educational support);
- Teamwork: Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers and effectively handles conflict situations;
- Communication: Ability to create open channels of communication; to express ideas clearly and concisely; to keep others well informed in a timely manner; and to listen carefully to input and feedback;
- Customer Driven: Ability to provide outstanding customer service to both internal and external customers by considering how actions or plans will affect customers. Ability to follow through on responsibilities to customers;
- Initiative: Ability to identify and initiate actions to support the mission and objectives, and to resolve or avoid problems;
- Diversity: Ability to demonstrate an understanding and respect for people of all backgrounds.
- Integrity: Ability to maintain responsible and honest behavior in all roles, tasks and responsibilities; and
- Safety and Computer Security: Ability to follow safety policies and procedures; identify and correct safety hazards. Ability to follow general university policies and procedures that are related to data stewardship and information technology security. Ability to safeguard sensitive and confidential data both in electronic and physical forms.
The following training/updates are mandatory and provided by Mason:
- Title IX Overview and Sexual Harassment Prevention - annually;
- Equal Opportunity: A Fair Shake - biennially;
- Ethics - biennially; and
- FERPA.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in related field;
- Considerable experience in related activities (i.e. mentorship, advising, educational support);
- Teamwork: Minimum listed above plus the skill in maintaining and communicating enthusiasm, commitment and energy;
- Communication: Minimum listed above plus the ability to establish good interpersonal relationships by helping people feel valued and included in discussions;
- Customer Driven: Minimum listed above plus the ability to respond with appropriate urgency, flexibility, courtesy and good judgment to meet customer needs and resolve problems; and
- Initiative: Minimum listed above plus the skill in maintaining high credibility to accomplish objectives.
Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for Academic Advisor at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume.
Posting Open Date: March 8, 2024
For Full Consideration, Apply by: March 22, 2024
Open Until Filled?: Yes
The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at George Mason University is a fast-growing force for innovation in research and education. Ranked nationally in the top 100 in both undergraduate and graduate education, the CEC enrolled a record high of 10,933 students in fall 2023. The college has 34 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs including several first-in-the-nation offerings. Of its 320 full-time faculty, 93 are tenured, 77 are tenure-track, 90 are term faculty, and 60 are research faculty. As part of a nationally ranked research university, CEC research teams expended $65 million in sponsored research awards in the past year and had projects with over $119 million in current and anticipated awards. The college stands out for its leading research in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics engineering, cybersecurity engineering, biomedical imaging and devices, healthcare, autonomous systems, 5G/Next G communications, systems architectures, computational biomedicine, advanced materials and manufacturing, sustainable infrastructure, and more. The college encourages and supports multidisciplinary research and provides ample opportunity for faculty to work with other disciplines.
About the University and the Region
George Mason University is the largest and most diverse public research university in Virginia, with an enrollment of more than 40,000 students studying in over 200 degree programs. Mason is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in a range of academic fields. It was classified as an R1 research institution in 2016 by the Carnegie Classifications of Institutes of Higher Education. The university has campuses in Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William County. Its proximity to Washington, D.C. provides unmatched geographical access to federal agencies and national laboratories. Northern Virginia is also home to one of the largest concentrations of high-tech firms in the nation, providing excellent opportunities for interaction with industry. The region is consistently rated as being among the best places to live in the country and has an outstanding local public school system.
About the Future
In conjunction with Amazon’s decision to establish a second headquarters in Northern Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced a multi-year plan to invest in the growth of degree programs in computing. As a result, Mason has committed to accelerate its plans to grow its capacity in computing and high-tech fields. Among the university’s exciting initiatives are the launch of the Institute for Digital Innovation—a university think tank and incubator to serve the digital economy—and the expansion of Mason Square home to its Arlington facilities. In 2025, Fuse a new 355,000 square foot building, will open to students, faculty, and research teams. This net-zero facility will house the Institute for Digital Innovation, state-of the-art classrooms, labs, and collaborative spaces. It will also include retail space, and leasing opportunities for local businesses. These initiatives reflect hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment by Mason that will rapidly elevate the university’s already leading national position in computing and related areas.
Mason Ad Statement
Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason’s diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.
If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!
George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition.
Equity Statement
George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
Campus Safety Information
Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/
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